This offseason, our New Orleans Pelicans coverage
team has ranked the top 10 players on the roster. We'll unveil the list every
weekday as we count down to training camp.

There were tough decisions, particularly with
the new additions to the team. So let the debate begin.

No. 2: G Jrue Holiday

Season: 5; Age: 23; Height: 6-4; Weight: 205

When the Pelicans obtained point guard Jrue
Holiday in a draft-night trade that sent the No. 6 overall pick Nerlens Noel
and a future first-rounder to the Philadelphia 76ers, New Orleans acquired its
first All-Star floor general since Chris Paul was traded away in 2011.

With Holiday, an All-Star last season when he
averaged 17.7 points, eight assists and 4.2 rebounds a game, leading the way,
the Pelicans should be able to run more and take advantage of their athletic
wings (Tyreke Evans, Eric Gordon and Al-Farouq Aminu) and elite spot-up
shooters (Ryan Anderson and Anthony Morrow).

Since arriving in the NBA as a 17th
overall pick in the 2009 draft, Holiday has gradually emerged as one of the
league's quickest and best point guards. Although he put up good offensive numbers
last season, scouts, coaches and even some players have raved about Holiday's
ability as an on-ball defender, a trait that should help a New Orleans defense
that was among the worst in the league last season.